[ Readers with triggers and story ordering set up should
note that this article is the first we’ve added under the new ‘Law
and Licenses’ category. -ed. ]
“…President Bush said, “The federal government and
all our agencies are conducting business. But it is not business as
usual.” Mr. Eisner, please take that as a hint. It’s a mistake for
any American to shut down another’s freedom to speak, whether the
person being censored is editing an on-line newspaper or just
making tweaks to the software that runs the “Crackmonkey” site.The SSSCA, which you are in the middle of buying from Congress,
would outlaw the software that powers the independent Internet, the
Internet that had many of us crying on our keyboards this week,
from loss, relief or rage. At times like this, a slightly cracked
monkey means more to us than a perfectly coiffed mouse.It would be shameful for you to show up at the US Capitol with a
duffel bag full of “campaign contributions” at a time like this.
Paying Congress to silence your fellow citizens, now, is not the
act of a loyal American.”